Richard E. Hecklinger, Deputy Secretary-Generals of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Before taking up his fuctions on January 2nd 2002, Mr. Hecklinger had been the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand since February 1999. Here, he headed one of the largest U.S. embassies in the world with a broad mandate covering defence co-operation, trade and investment, promotion of democracy and human rights, environmental protection, education, medical research and the fight against illegal drugs and international crime.

A member of the United States Foreign Service since 1967, Mr. Hecklinger has devoted much of his career to international economic issues, serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission to the OECD. He was also Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs and Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in The Hague.

During the late 1970's and early 1980's, Mr. Hecklinger directed an international energy policy office in the Department of State, and was acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the Department of Energy.

Mr. Hecklinger has had a longstanding relationship with the OECD. Besides his tour as Deputy in the U.S. Mission, he had oversight responsibility for OECD affairs during three assignments in the Department of State, from 1986 until 1996. He also worked closely with the International Energy Agency (IEA) from 1977-81, and as a member of the IEA Governing Board in 1995-96.
Mr. Hecklinger received degrees from Harvard Law School, The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and St. Lawrence University. He is married to Carol Pratt Hecklinger.